Mr. & Mrs. Mahi movie review: A formulaic sports rom com with a non-formulaic twist

Mr. & Mrs. Mahi movie review

“Koi tumko apna platform nahi dega, tumhe khudh banana padega” (nobody will give you their platform, you have to make it on your own) this is the best line said by Rajesh Sharma from these formulaic sports rom com starring Janhvi Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao, they play a couple passionate for cricket and amusingly the couple come to know about this on their wedding night.

Writer director Sharan Sharma (‘Gunjan Saxena’ fame) with his co-writer Nikhil Mehrotra churn a formulaic sports rom com and just when you are about to react on the predictability of this amiable sports rom com build on a formulaic template, an unexpected ‘doosra’ gets delivered by the writer and the director.

The ‘doosra’ lifts this romantic sports drama that is guilty of delivering no balls and wide balls of superficiality with potholes bigger than those ‘maut ka kuva’ we have seen in melas/fun fair during our childhood.

Those who are not familiar with the term ‘doosra’ in cricket, allow me pls – ‘doosra’ is a delivery bowled by an off spinner which appears like a regular off spinner delivery but spins in the other direction inducing the batsmen to play a false shot.

I want talk about the ‘doosra’ element in this review and remain the good boy non spoiler type and continue with our Mahi’s on screen.

The male Mahi - Mahendra (Rajkummar Rao) – the failed local club level cricketer gets humiliated by his father played by Kumud Mishra. The father owns a popular sports shop and has proudly displayed his collection of pictures with cricket legends at the wall of his dukaan and sells his products by rhyming lines like ‘yeh balla padega sab pe bhari, hamari ho gayi ab tumhari bari’ ( I don,t feel like translating this one).

Coming back to the poor looser one, Mahendra gets a good ‘rishta’ from the padi likhi susheel doctor Mahima (Janhvi Kapoor) and she is faltered by Mahendra’s honesty when he clears that he has nothing to boost about himself.

After honesty its cricket that plays the cupid and the ‘Mahi’s are a happy couple. Mahima too is passionate and is a sort of a prodigy who can hit sixes at will though with a tennis ball.

The failed cricketer who just works in his father’s sports shop becomes coach of Mahima (who is a qualified doctor and is practicing under a senior doctor).

Mahima a qualified doctor who never thought of playing cricket seriously at state level, quits her job easily, Mahendra just has to say “ apni rah chuno, tum stethoscope taang kar ghoomne ke liye nahi bani ho” and Mahima drops her stethoscope and takes the ‘balla’ (what an agyakari nari) while the fathers of Mahi’s machao hohalla for a while. How typical.  

Problem begins from here, “This is hit wicket for ‘Mr and Mrs Mahi” said a young enthusiastic reviewer sitting next to me.

I also was not convinced properly on this sudden change in Mahima. Mind you – this is not the ‘doosra’ I was talking about, that happens much later in the second half.

And when that ‘doosra’ happens and the sequences that follow that also include Zarina Wahab getting to say something relevant otherwise she was restricted to kitchen and making those gajar ka halwa.

Like any likable sports film, the comeback in the last 20 – 25 minutes saves ‘Mr. & Mrs. Mahi’ otherwise Sharan Sharma has already compelled the film to commit a suicide in what it seems to be an unwanted insipid tribute to ‘Abhimaan’.

Anyways, the knowledge of cricket displayed by the makers is fair and the chemistry between Rajkummar Rao and Janhvi Kapoor is fresh, breezy and amiable.

Performances

Rajkummar Rao gives a stellar performance, watch him in the last 20 minutes. Outstanding.

Janhvi Kapoor is excellent and gives a splendid performance, the actress has now developed the ability to get into the skin with ease and is spontaneous to the hilt. Amazing.

Rajesh Sharma as Rao’s coach is superb

Kumud Mishra as Rajkummar Rao father is brilliant with his sarcasms.

Purnendu Bhattacharya as Janvi’s father has his moments.

Zarina Wahab as Rajkummar Rao’s mother is fabulous in that scene which is one of the major highlights.

Arjit Taneja as Rajkummar Rao’s brother who is a popular television actor lands a good couple of punches and is impressive.

Technicalities

Production values are rich. Cinematography by Anay Goswamy is colorful. Editing by Nitin Baid is decent. Music by Aadesh Shrivastava, Vishal Mishra, Tanishk Bagchi, Jaani, Achint–Yuva, Hunny–Bunny, Dhruv Dhalla are routine. Background by John Stewart Eduri is impactful.

Mr. & Mrs. Mahi – final words

‘Mr. & Mrs. Mahi’ is a decent sports rom com that is laced with coming-of-age layers as well is perfect for a date with your partner and also suitable for family watching.

Going with three and a half stars for ‘Mr and Mrs Mahi’, the movie is running in theaters from May 31, 2024.